Chadron State College
Elementary Observation and Participation
EDUC 320 79, Online
Spring 2012
Instructor: Ms. Lorie Hunn
Office Phone: (308) 432-6491
Office Hours: As posted and by appointment
Office:
e-mail:
Old Admin 106
lhunn@csc.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Classroom observation and participation prior to student teaching at various grade levels or in the
subject areas students might teach in the middle grades. Students will observe and participate in
two or three different classroom settings from primary to middle grades. Those students
interested in rural school education are encouraged to select a class 1 school for one observation
period.
Prerequisites:
PPST, EDUC 131, 224, 321, 322, 323, and
PSYC 231 and SPED 230, Application to Teacher Education
Program
Credit Hours:
2
Text:
None
Purpose:
Education 320 is designed to provide a final exploratory experience and exposure to the
various levels as well as some specialties of kindergarten through grade eight prior to student
teaching.
Methods of Instruction:
Handouts are included online to facilitate the administrative portion of the course, online
discussion to share experiences between the experiences, and teacher/student conferences to
discuss individual experiences. Two or three supervised experiences in approved elementary
and middle school settings, with emphasis on observing, collecting data, reporting,
experimenting, participating, and discussing.
Student Learning Outcomes:
A student completing EDUC 320 will be able to:
1. understand the operation and organization of the elementary and/or middle school
classroom including routine and administrative tasks.
2. gain insight into successful teaching techniques and strategies.
3. become acquainted with primary, pre-adolescent, and adolescent behavior.
4. provide evidence as to whether the profession of teaching is an appropriate career
choice and/or what level is most appealing.
5. continue development as visionary leaders in the following ways:
VISIONARY LEADER KNOWLEDGE BASE
Component
Activity
1. Critical thinking: Observe actual teaching situations and begin to make instructional
decisions.
2. Human relations: Establish rapport with building administrators, classroom teachers, and
students. Through a field trip, become aware of diverse student needs.
3. Evaluation:
Share and describe experiences in the classroom with peers and instructor.
Write an account of a total classroom experience, and anecdotal report on
a student, and a personal view of themselves as a professional instructor.
Prepare a portfolio entry in the Hildreth Hall computer lab for this course.
4. Communication: Communicate effectively with supervising teachers, students, and college
instructor.
5. Leadership:
Under the direct supervision of a certified teacher, take responsibility for
planning, preparation, and participating in activities such as tutoring,
grading papers, small and large group activities, and other similar
classroom activities.
6. Methodology:
Build and teach lessons with methods learned from observation of the
methods of instruction demonstrated in the classroom and from college
methods courses.
7. Professionalism: Demonstrate appropriate appearance as well as conduct and display ethical
behavior when working with students and school related information.
Course Content:
(With approval of classroom supervisor.)
1. Class observation.
2. Miscellaneous class tasks:
a. preparing bulletin boards
b. locating reference/resource materials
c. conducting opening exercises
d. supervising games/recess
e. constructing transparencies/handouts
f. operating audiovisual equipment
g. serving as lab, shop, locker room assistant
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Assist in preparation of instructional materials.
Tutor individual(s) periodically
Tutor individual(s) at regular intervals
Assist in planning for small group(s)
Assist periodically in small group instruction
Assume supervisor/teaching responsibilities for small group(s) at regular basis.
Assist in administering tests/quizzes
Grade papers/test/quizzes
Attend faculty meeting(s)
Participate in faculty in-service
Attend parent-teacher conference
Present mini lesson
Schedule:
1. All students will complete one hundred clock hours of observation and participation in
two or three segments after methods courses have been completed and the PPST test
passed.
2. Students working toward an elementary endorsement will have two experiences in an
elementary classroom and a third experience in a middle school classroom with the
following classes substituting for one of the three experiences:
a. SPED 316 Microteaching in Elementary Special Education
b. FCS 448 Preschool Practicum
3. Students working toward a middle school endorsement will have one or two
experiences in middle school and an elementary experience.
4. Discuss with Ms. Hunn via Sakai during the two weeks prior to final exams to discuss the
experience. This discussion is mandatory.
5. You will submit a written report no later than 2 weeks after you have completed each O
& P session. Time sheets and evaluations will be mailed to the office of the Director of
Field Experiences. Written reports submitted in a "lump" or "package" at the end of the
semester will not be accepted without prior approval. Pace yourself to meet your
deadlines.
Grading Procedures:
Final grading in Education 320 will be based on the following:
1. Completion of the required number of observation hours as documented by time
sheets.
2. Evaluations from classroom teachers.
3. Participation in the Sakai discussions and final conference.
4. Quality of the three written reports (see description of written assignments on
accompanying handout).
Attendance:
1. Students must complete 100 clock hours of observation and participation. No credit from
another institution will be substituted.
2. Students must notify their cooperating teacher of any changes in the
observation schedule. Your attendance at the designated school is your
responsibility; be sure to follow-through in a professional manner.
3. Discussion via Sakai is mandatory.
4. Final conference via Sakai is mandatory.
Student Behavior:
Academic Honesty - Students are expected to conduct themselves in conformity with the
highest standards with regard to academic honesty. Violation of college, state, or federal
standards with regard to plagiarism, cheating or falsification of official records will
not be tolerated. Students violating such standards will be subject to discipline, as per
campus policies articulated in the Student Handbook. Please request a copy of the
student handbook from the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student
Services (Crites 336, 432-6231).
Attendance Policy - The College assumes that students will seek to profit from the
instructional program and will recognize the importance of attending every class meeting
of courses for which credit is expected. Responsibility for notifying faculty of absences
and for arranging potential make-up rests with the students.
Attendance: Attendance is required. Your presence is important for your own learning as well
as your contribution to the work of the class. If an absence is unavoidable, please arrange ahead
of time to discuss options for making-up work. More than two unexcused absences may result in
lowering of the final grade.
Assignments: Assignments are due on or before the specified date. If you anticipate being
absent, arrange to have the assignment turned in before the class meeting.
Make-up exams: Exams that are missed due to an excused absence may be made-up before the
next class meeting by arrangement with the instructor.
Regular class attendance is required. Your presence is important for your own learning
as well as your contribution to the work of the class. If an absence if unavoidable, please
arrange ahead of time to discuss options for making up the work. You are fully
responsible for content covered and work missed during your absence. All assignments
will have due dates. Full credit can be earned on work submitted on the due date. Ten
percent will be deducted for late work. Each student is required to attend the
Multicultural Field Experience. Failure to meet the above attendance requirement will
result in the student completing a comparable research project assigned by the
instructors. This research project will focus on multicultural educational issues.
Civility - Civil behavior enhances the academic setting, and is expected at all times. Courtesy
and respect for others are essential elements of the academic culture. The academic environment
welcomes a difference of opinion, discourse, and debate within a civil environment.
Nondiscrimination Policy/Equal Educational Opportunity Policy: Chadron State College is
committed to an affirmative action program to encourage admission of minority and female
students and to provide procedures which will assure equal treatment of all students. The
College is committed to creating an environment for all students that is consistent with
nondiscriminatory policy. To that end, it is the policy of Chadron State College to administer its
academic employment programs and related supporting services in a manner which does not
discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, national origin, age, religion, disability, or
marital status. Student requests for reasonable accommodation based upon documented
disabilities should be presented within the first two weeks of the semester, or within two weeks of
the diagnosis, to the Disabilities Counselor (432-6461; Crites, Rm. 108).
Disclaimer:
This syllabus and schedule is articulated as an expectation of class topics, learning
activities, and expected student learning. However, the instructor reserves the right to
make changes in this schedule that, within my professional judgment, would result in
enhanced or more effective learning on the part of the students. These modifications
will not substantially change the intent or objectives of this course and will be done
within the policies and procedures of Chadron State College.